Public Hearing For DNREC, DDA Proposed Firearm Regulations Set For Monday, March 12 In Dover

Public hearing for DNREC, DDA proposed firearm regulations set for Monday, March 12 in Dover

DOVER (March 1, 2018) – Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Department of Agriculture (DDA) will conduct a joint public hearing Monday, March 12 on proposed regulations for possessing firearms in Delaware’s state parks and wildlife areas under DNREC’s authority and state forests under DDA’s authority. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

With the intent of promulgating new firearms regulations to comply with the Dec. 7, 2017 Delaware Supreme Court decision in Bridgeville Rifle & Pistol Club v. DNREC, which invalidated portions of previously existing DNREC and DDA regulations governing firearms, both state agencies proposed regulations governing possession of firearms within Delaware’s state parks, state wildlife areas and state forests.

DNREC and DDA held public workshops last month in all three counties in advance of the March 12 public hearing. The hearing record on the proposed amendments opened Feb. 1 and will remain open until 4:30 p.m. March 27. Comments on the proposed regulations will be accepted by US mail addressed to: Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer, DNREC, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901 and by email sent to Lisa.Vest@state.de.us. Comments also may be presented either orally or in writing at the March 12 public hearing.

For more information on the proposed firearms regulations, including an overview of the proposed changes, an interactive map that shows proposed firearm possession areas within parks, forests, and wildlife area properties, please visit the DNREC website.